Tube-pulling device



Feb. 6, 1968 D. s. SIPHER 3,367,011

TUBEPULLING DEVICE v Filed March 7, 196 2 Sheets-Sheet l BY fw/d m ATTORNEY D. S. SIPHER TUBE-PULLING DEVICE Feb. 6, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March '7, 1966 ATTORNEY www@ d'il i Patented Fein. 6, 1968 ice 3,367,4)11 TUBE-PULLENG BEY/ECE Dean S. Sipher, Pitman, NJ. (P U. Box 696, Forked River, NJ. 08731) Filed Mar. 7, 1966, Ser., No. 532,341 6 Claims. (Cl. 29-202) This invention relates generally to tools, and is especially concerned with apparatus for pulling a heat-exchanger tube and the like from tube sheets or walls.

As is well known in the art of heat exchangers, regular maintenance involves periodic removal and replacement of tubes. While tools have been provided in the past for accomplishing this purpose, such tools have been relatively complex in structure, expensive to manufacture and maintain, and relatively large and heavy, being difficult to manipulate and relatively slow in operation.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a tube-pulling device which overcomes the above-mentioned diiculties, is extremely simple in construction, being relatively small in size and light in weight, to greatly simplify a users operation, and substantially increase the rate of work accomplished.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a Itube-pulling device having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which requires fewer component parts, resulting in increased reliability in operation and a longer useful life, and which can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by fthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a longitudinal sectional elevational view showing a tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the component parts thereof being in an operative condition of use illustrating the pulling of a tube;

FIGURE 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view similar to FIGURE l, but illustrating another condition of use preparatory to the tube-pulling operation;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional View taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES l and 2 thereof, a tube-pulling device or tool is there generally designated 1@ and includes an outer hollow body or cylinder 11 having a transverse extension or handle 12. Projecting forwardly from the front end of the outer body or cylinder 11 is a generally tubular extension 13 terminating in an annular end edge or abutment surface 14.

The outer body or cylinder 11 may include a generally cylindrical side wall 16 having a cylindrical internal hollow or chamber 17. A rear wall 18 extends across the rear end of side wall 16 enclosing the rear end of chamber 17, and a front wall 19 extends across the front or forward end of the outer-cylinder side wall 16. The front wall 19 is formed with a central thru opening 2t) open- The transverse extension or handle 12 may be integral with the outer-cylinder side and rear-end wall 16 and 18, or otherwise tixedly secured thereto, adjacent to the rear end of the outer cylinder 11, and may be provided with a rear iiuid passageway 22 extending longitudinally through the handle from a connection fitting 23 at the distal handle end and opening through the outer-cylinder side wall 16 adjacent to the rear cylinder end wall 18. A forward fluid passageway 24 may also be formed in the handle 12, extending longitudinally thereof from an inlet fitting 2S at the distal handle end generally parallel to the rear passageway 22. In the outer-cylinder Side wall 16 the passageway 24 may turn forwardly and extend, as at 26, to a forward region of the side wall 16, whence it extends, as at 27 obliquely forwardly and radially inwardly through forward cylinder end wall 19 for opening inwardly through the central end-wall opening 20. Further, the front end-wall opening 20 is formed with an internal annular groove 28 communicating with the forward end opening of forward passageway 24, 26, 27. That is, the forward, inner end of passageway region Z7 may open through the outer or bottom wall of groove 28 for communication therethrough with the interior of front end-wall opening 20.

A generally longitudinal passageway 30 is formed in the forward cylinder end wall 19 extending from the passageway region 27 rearwardly and opening from the wall 19 into the forward interior region of cylinder chamber 17. Provided in the longitudinal chamber 30 is a oneway or check valve 31 arranged to prevent flow forwardly from the chamber 17 to the passageway region 27, and to permit reverse tiow therethrough under a minimum pressure. The valve 31 may include an omn plug 32 in a rear region of the passageway 30, a spring 33 on the forward side of the plug 32, and a ball 34 forward of the spring for closing engagement with a valve seat 3S. Thus, the ball 34 is resiliently urged by the spring 33 forwardly into its closed, seated relation under a force determined by adjustment of the plug 32. As will appear presently, the valve 31 affords a delay essential to operation of the tool.

A branch passageway 36 may extend from the region 26 of forward passageway 24 generally radially inward through outer-cylinder side wall 16 to the cylinder chamber 17 adjacent to the front wall 19. An additional generally radial passageway 37 may communicate between the forward passageway region 26 and chamber 17 adjacent to and rearward of the branch passageway 36, for a purpose appearing presently.

The abutment tube 13 is illustrated as of sectional configuration, including an inner tube section 40 fixedly secured to and extending forward from the cylinder end wall 19. The interior surface of the tube section 40 may be substantially flush with the interior of opening 20 to define a forward continuation thereof. Secured interiorly of the tube section 40 is an outer tube section 41 projecting forwardly from the inner tube section and terminating in the abutment edge or end surface 14.

Conformably slidable in the chamber 17 of outer cylinder 11 is an outer piston 42. The outer piston 42 may be formed with circumferential grooves 43 receiving sealing rings 44 in sealing engagement with the surface of chamber 17. The outer piston 42 may have its forward surface provided with a forwardly extending circumferential lip or flange 44, and may be formed centrally with a recess 45. A transverse fluid passageway 46 may be formed in the piston 42 extending radially inwardly thereof, as at 47, and thence longitudinally forward, as at 48, for entry into the recess 45 through the bottom or rear wall thereof. The region 47 of transverse passageway 46 is located for communication with the inner end of rear fluid passageway 22 when the piston is in its rear position, as in FIG- URE 1. Also, a circumferential groove 49 may extend about the circumference of piston 42 intersecting with transverse passageway 46 to assure communication of the latter with passageway 22 in any angular position of piston 42. A longitudinal passageway 50 extends rearward from the bottom wall of recess 45 through the rear side of piston 42 and is provided with a one-way or check valve 51, which may include an open plug or stop 52 fixed in a rear end of the passageway 50, a spring 53 forward of the plug, and a ball 54 forward of the spring and biased thereby against a valve seat 55. The valve 51 thus prevents uid flow forward through passageway 50 and permits rearward flow therethrough at a minimum limiting pressure, as determined by location of the plug 52. As will appear presently, the valve 51 functions as a delay valve in operation of the device.

An additional passageway 57 extends forwardly through the rear side of piston 42, intersecting with passageway 46, and passes thence radially outward, as at 58 opening into an external circumferential groove 59 on the cylinder 42. Passageway 57, 58 and groove 59 are located for communication between the chamber 17 rearward of the piston 42 (when the latter is in its forward position) and through passageway 37 to passageway 26, thereby providing a vent, relief or overflow passageway for fluid under pressure when the piston 42 is in its forward position of FIGURE 2.

An inner cylinder 60 is slidably received in the opening 20 of front wall 19, being in sealing engagement therewith by the provision of external sealing rings 61 about the cylinder 60 and internal sealing rings 62 within the opening 20. The rearward end region of the cylinder 60 is engaged in the recess 45 of piston 42 and xedly secured thereto, as by screw threads 63 or other suitable securing means. Thus, the cylinder 60 extends forwardly from the piston 42, being reciprocably movable therewith and slidable through opening 20 of outer cylinder front wall 19. The rear end of cylinder 60 is open, and combines with the bottom wall of recess 45 to define an inner-cylinder chamber 64. The chamber 64 is generally cylindrical and extends interiorly of the cylinder 60 forwardly from the 1 piston 42 to a rearwardly facing end wall 65.'Spaced between the end wall 65 and recess 45, the cylinder 6G is provided with an internal generally annular shoulder 66 facing toward the recess 45. A longitudinal slot 67 may be formed in the cylinder 66 opening laterally from the chamber 64 outward through the cylinder, and located adjacent to the end wall 65. From the end wall 65, extending forwardly, the cylinder 60 is formed with a reduced opening or bore 68, which opens through the forward end 69 of the cylinder. A plurality of longitudinally extending, cylindrically arranged jaws 70 are carried by the forward end of cylinder 66, as by a threaded connection 71, and extend forwardly from the cylinder. The jaws 70 may be formed from tubular stock having end slits dening the jaws and affording resilience thereto. The jaws 70 are provided on their outer sides, adjacent to their free ends, with gripping faces 72 of any suitable formation. Thus, the jaws 70 are reciprocable longitudinally within the abut. ment extension 13 upon reciprocation of the cylinder 60, as between the conditions illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Interiorly of the inner-cylinder chamber 64 is slidably mounted an inner piston 75, which may carry a sealing ring 76 for sealing engagement with the interior surface of the chamber 64. The piston 75 is shftable forwardly and rearwardly between a rearmost position proximate to the recess 45 of outer piston 42, and a forwardmost position in abutting engagement with the shoulder 66. Extending rigidly from the piston y75 is a piston rod 77, passing slidably through the reduced cylinder bore 68, and in sealing relation therewith, as by sealing rings 78.

A jaw operator or spreader 80 is arranged centrally within the jaws 70, including an elongate shank 81 extending rearwardly into and fixedly secured within the forward end of piston rod 77. On the forward end of shank 81 may be an enlarged head 82 having specifically congured external surfaces for engagement with the jaws to spread the latter upon retraction therebetween (the condition shown in FIGURE l), and permit contraction of the jaws upon extension of the head 82 therebeyond (as in FIGURE 2).

A selector valve 85 includes an elongate valve body 86 slidably mounted in the handle 12 extending transversely across and intersecting with the rear and forward passageways 22 and 24. The valve body 86 is longitudinally slidable forwardly and rearwardly, being resiliently biased toward a forward position, as by a coil compression spring 87 bearing against the rear valve-body end. Projecting from the forward end of the valve body 86 is a push button or trigger 88 which projects externally from the handle 12 and is manually depressible or retractable rearwardly therein. Formed in the valve body 86 are a pair of transverse thru openings `89 and 90 movable into and out of alignment with respective rearward and forward passageways 22 and 24. Thus, in the forward rest position shown in FIGURE l, the valve-body passageways 89 and 9() are out of registry with passageways 22 and 24, and upon retraction of the valve body rearwardly, the passageways 89 and 90 are in respective alignment with the passageways 22 and 24. In addition, a pair of diagonal, nonintersecting passageways 91 and 92 are formed in the valve body 86, the former communicating between the passageway 24 on the lower side of the valve body and the passageway 22 on the upper side of the valve body (as seen in FIGURE l), and the latter communicating between the passageway 22 on the lower side of the valve body and the passageway 24 on the upper side of the valve body. Thus, in the rest condition of FIGURE l the lower and upper regions of passageway 24 on opposite sides of the valve body 86 are out of communication with each other, as are the lower and upper regions of passageway 22 on opposite sides of the valve body. The communication established by the diagonal passageways 91 and 92 is closed upon retraction of the valve body 86, so that the lower and upper regions of passageway 22 communicate with each other, as do the lower and upper regions of passageway 24.`

A conduit 93 may be connected to the lower end of passageway 24 for communication with a relatively highpressure fluid source, and a conduit 94 may be connected to the' lower end of passageway 22 for communication with relatively low-pressure uid.

In operation, the condition shown in FIGURE l is not a stable condition, as high-pressure fluid will pass from the lower region of passageway 24, through diagonal passageway 91, and the upper region of passageway 22, initially through passageway 46, including bores 47 and 48 into the inner-cylinder chamber 64 rearward of piston 75. This effects forward shifting movement of piston 75 into abutment with shoulder 66, whereupon pressure builds up to pass fluid rearwardly through passageway 50 and valve Si to the chamber 17 rearward of piston 42. The piston 42 is then shifted forward. Of course, this operation is quite rapid, and the passageway 57 is relatively small, so that the above-described proper sequence of operation is not affected by a minor rearward passage of iuid through passageway 57. When piston 42 clears the upper end of passageway 22, its forward movement is increased by the greater possible flow of driving fluid. A limiting forward position of piston 42 .is reached on engagement with the forward end wall 19, the position shown in FIGURE 2. In this condition the passageway 57, 58 provides relief for high-pressure fluid from behind piston 42 into port 37 and thence through passageway 26, diagonal passageway 92 and to exhaust through the lower region of passageway 22 and conduit 94. This prevents excessive pressures iu a normal rest position of the apparatus, shown in FIGURE 2.

When it is desired to pull a tube, the operator head 82 and jaws 70 are engaged in the open end of a tube, with the abutment end 14 of projection 13 bearing against a wall or bulkhead 95. Upon depression of button or trigger S3, the bores 90 and 92 are shifted rearwardly into respective registry with passageways 24 and 22. Highpressure fluid is then communicated through conduit 93, passageway 24, bore 90, passageways 26 and 27, and through slot or opening 67 into chamber 64 forward of piston 75. The inner piston 75 is thereby retracted to spread the jaws 70 in gripping engagement with the interior of a tube to be drawn. When this jaw position of gripping engagement is reached, fluid pressure builds up in chamber 64 and passageway 27 to open valve 31 and pass uid under pressure against front wall 43 of piston 42. The outer piston 42 is thereby moved rearward, the inner piston 75 being moved rearward with the outer piston, and after the port or passageway 36 is cleared by the outer piston rearward movement thereof is more rapid by the greater ow of uid. The rearward movement of outer and inner pistons 42 and 75 continues to a rearward limiting position, drawing the tube 96 into the tube section 41, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The operator may then release selector-valve button S3 to return the tool to its condition of FIGURE 2.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a tube-pulling device which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, maintenance and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tube-pulling device comprising an outer cylinder having an opening at its forward end, the rear end of said outer cylinder being closed, abutment means xed to said outer cylinder extending forwardly from said forward cylinder end, an outer piston reciprocable in said outer cylinder, an inner cylinder having its rear end fixed to said outer piston and having its forward end extending slidably through said forward end opening of said outer cylinder, said inner cylinder having an opening through its forward end, jaw means carried by said inner cylinder at said forward end thereof for extension and retraction relative to said abutment means, an inner piston reciprocable in said inner cylinder, a jaw operator extending from said inner piston slidably through said forward inner-cylinder opening for spreading and contracting said jaw means upon rearward and forward innerpiston movement, a rear uid passageway communicating with a rear internal region of said outer cylinder and substantially closed by said outer piston in its rearward position, a transverse iiuid passageway through said outer cylinder having one end communicating with the internal rearward region of said inner cylinder and having its other end communicating with said rear fluid passageway when said outer piston is in its rearward position, a first longitudinal fluid passageway extending through said outer piston communicating between the rearward regions of said inner and outer cylinders, a rst one-way delay valve in said first longitudinal passageway, a forward iluid passageway communicating with the forward interior region of said inner cylinder when the latter is moved forward with said outer piston, a second longitudinal passageway communicating between said forward passageway and the forward interior region of said outer cylinder, a second one-way delay valve in said second longitudinal passageway, and a selector valve for conducting pressurized fluid to a selected one of said forward and rear iuid passageways, whereby fluid conducted to said rear passageway passes through said transverse passageway into said inner cylinder to initially shift said inner piston forward and then through said first longitudinal passageway to subsequently shift said outer cylinder forward, and fluid conducted to said forward passageway passes into the inner cylinder to shift the inner piston rearward and then through said second longitudinal passageway to shift the outer piston rearward.

2. A tube-pulling device according to claim 1, in cornbination with a branch fluid passageway communicating between said forward fluid passageway and a forward interior region of said outer cylinder and closed by said outer piston in its forward position, said branch fluid passageway being opened upon incipient rearward shifting of said outer piston to increase the rearward-stroke speed of said outer piston.

3. A tube-pulling device according to claim 1, said selector valve being resiliently biased to a position communicating high-pressure iiuid to said rearward fluid passageway and low-pressure fluid to said forward uid passageway to normally maintain said outer and inner pistons forward, said outer piston having a relief liuid passageway communicating between the rear side of said outer piston and said forward fluid passageway when said outer piston is forward, to limit the pressure build-up in said outer cylinder.

4. A tube-pulling device according to claim l, said rst and second one-way delay valves comprising check valves resiliently biased to insure inner-piston movement prior to outer-piston movement.

5. A tube-pulling device according to claim 1, in combination with a handgrip extending transversely from said outer cylinder, said forward and rearward uid passageways extending through said handgrip.

6. A tube-pulling device according to claim 5, said selector valve being mounted in said handgrip and manually actuable to selectively reverse communication of said forward and rearward iiuid passageways with respect to fluid-supply and exhaust conduits.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,343,431 6/1920 Canty 29-280 1,363,934 12/1920 Upton 29-280 2,697,872 12/ 1954 Armstrong 29-252 2,950,525 8/1960 Duncan et al. 29-252 3,120,700 2/1964 Chuplis 29-202 3,149,412 9/ 1964 Curfman et al. 29-202 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TUBE-PULLING DEVICE COMPRISING AN OUTER CYLINDER HAVING AN OPENING AT ITS FORWARD END, THE REAR END OF SAID OUTER CYLINDER BEING CLOSED, ABUTMENT MEANS FIXED TO SAID OUTER CYLINDER EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM SAID FORWARD CYLINDER END, AN OUTER PISTON RECIPROCABLE IN SAID OUTER CYLINDER, AN INNER CYLINDER HAVING ITS REAR END FIXED TO SAID OUTER PISTON AND HAVING ITS FORWARD END EXTENDING SLIDABLY THROUGH SAID FORWARD END OPENING OF SAID OUTER CYLINDER, SAID INNER CYLINDER HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH ITS FORWARD END, JAW MEANS CARRIED BY SAID INNER CYLINDER AT SAID FORWARD END THEREOF FOR EXTENSION AND RETRACTION RELATIVE TO SAID ABUTMENT MEANS, AN INNER PISTON RECIPROCABLE IN SAID INNER CYLINDER, A JAW OPERATOR EXTENDING FROM SAID INNER PISTON SLIDABLY THROUGH SAID FORWARD INNER-CYLINDER OPENING FOR SPREADING AND CONTRACTING SAID JAW MEANS UPON REARWARD AND FORWARD INNERPISTON MOVEMENT, A REAR FLUID PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH A REAR INTERNAL REGION OF SAID OUTER CYLINDER AND SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED BY SAID OUTER PISTON IN ITS REARWARD POSITION, A TRANSVERSE FLUID PASSAGEWAY THROUGH SAID OUTER CYLINDER HAVING ONE END COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERNAL REARWARD REGION OF SAID INNER CYLINDER AND HAVING ITS OTHER END COMMUNICATING WITH SAID REAR FLUID PASSAGEWAY WHEN SAID OUTER PISTON IS IN ITS REARWARD POSITION, A FIRST LONGITUDINAL FLUID PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OUTER PISTON COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE REARWARD REGIONS OF SAID INNER AND OUTER CYLINDERS, A FIRST ONE-WAY DELAY VALVE IN SAID FIRST LONGITUDINAL PASSAGEWAY, A FORWARD FLUID PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH THE FORWARD INTERIOR REGION OF SAID INNER CYLINDER WHEN THE LATTER IS MOVED FORWARD WITH SAID OUTER PISTON, A SECOND LONGITUDINAL PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID FORWARD PASSAGEWAY AND THE FORWARD INTERIOR REGION OF SAID OUTER CYLINDER, A SECOND ONE-WAY DELAY VALVE IN SAID SECOND LONGITUDINAL PASSAGEWAY, AND A SELECTOR VALVE FOR CONDUCTING PRESSURIZED FLUID TO A SELECTED ONE OF SAID FORWARD AND REAR FLUID PASSAGEWAYS, WHEREBY FLUID CONDUCTED TO SAID REAR PASSAGEWAY PASSES THROUGH SAID TRANSVERSE PASSAGEWAY INTO SAID INNER CYLINDER TO INITIALLY SHIFT SAID INNER PISTON FORWARD AND THEN THROUGH SAID FIRST LONGITUDINAL PASSAGEWAY TO SUBSEQUENTLY SHIFT SAID OUTER CYLINDER FORWARD, AND FLUID CONDUCTED TO SAID FORWARD PASSAGEWAY PASSES INTO THE INNER CYLINDER TO SHIFT THE INNER PISTON REARWARD AND THEN THROUGH SAID SECOND LONGITUDINAL PASSAGEWAY TO SHIFT THE OUTER PISTON REARWARD. 